TRS leaving Sydney - Maximum Amount?

[Superhappykid]

I'm just wondering is there a limit on how much you can get back from the TRS tax return? I'm looking to buy an expensive watch as a gift for my parents and i'll be taking it overseas as they live overseas. I will NOT be bringing it back into the country.

It's a 5 figure watch but hypothetically lets pretend it's a 100k watch. Is there an upper limit or would I Just get $10,000 (I think it's 9.19% or something? So not exactly 10k) back in my bank account? I would also assume they'll probably search my bags on my way back in.

 

[SYD]

Doesn’t appear to be. Just need your name on the valid tax invoice.

Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS)

You can claim a refund of the goods and services tax (GST) and wine equalisation tax (WET) that you pay on goods you buy in Australia.

www.abf.gov.au

As an aside, I don’t recall seeing the explicit exclusion of medical implants before. I guess that could be awkward with cough jobs…

PS
There is an existing thread or two on TRS

R

Thread 'New TRS rules? Goods no longer included in cap?'

Feb 18, 2022

So after being stuck in Fortress Australia for last 2 years I've managed to finally get out of the country with a short trip to Singapore. At the airport, I claimed the GST refund on a mobile phone worth $850 and was on my merry way. I then had a careful look at the TRS receipt and it looks like any TRS goods are not included in your incoming passenger concession:

"If TRS goods return to Australia they must be declared and the full refund paid back. TRS goods are not included in your passenger concession. Penalties apply to undeclared goods"

The ABF TRS site seems to confirm this wording...

• robbo135
• Replies: 298
• Forum: Passports, Visas, Immigration & Customs

 

[Superhappykid]

Doesn’t appear to be. Just need your name on the valid tax invoice.

Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS)

You can claim a refund of the goods and services tax (GST) and wine equalisation tax (WET) that you pay on goods you buy in Australia.

www.abf.gov.au

As an aside, I don’t recall seeing the explicit exclusion of medical implants before. I guess that could be awkward with cough jobs…

PS
There is an existing thread or two on TRS

R

Thread 'New TRS rules? Goods no longer included in cap?'

Feb 18, 2022

So after being stuck in Fortress Australia for last 2 years I've managed to finally get out of the country with a short trip to Singapore. At the airport, I claimed the GST refund on a mobile phone worth $850 and was on my merry way. I then had a careful look at the TRS receipt and it looks like any TRS goods are not included in your incoming passenger concession:

"If TRS goods return to Australia they must be declared and the full refund paid back. TRS goods are not included in your passenger concession. Penalties apply to undeclared goods"

The ABF TRS site seems to confirm this wording...

• robbo135
• Replies: 298
• Forum: Passports, Visas, Immigration & Customs

Lol, I can see how cough jobs can be excluded. You'll always be bringing them back into the country!

Thanks for pointing out the thread. I'll give that a good once over.

 

[RealtimeY]

You should do the claim form online, which will tell you exactly how much you get back.

My TRS Claim

Tourist Refund Scheme - Travellers may enter invoice details and save or print as a QR code to be scanned at a TRS facility, saving time when departing.

trs.border.gov.au

 

[SYD]

You should do the claim form online, which will tell you exactly how much you get back.

My TRS Claim

Tourist Refund Scheme - Travellers may enter invoice details and save or print as a QR code to be scanned at a TRS facility, saving time when departing.

trs.border.gov.au

or via the app. Both provide the QR code and refund amount.

Lol, I can see how cough jobs can be excluded. You'll always be bringing them back into the country!

You’re allowed to bring stuff back - just have to declare it if it’s over your individual or family pool allowance.

 

[coolkid101]

I'm just wondering is there a limit on how much you can get back from the TRS tax return? I'm looking to buy an expensive watch as a gift for my parents and i'll be taking it overseas as they live overseas. I will NOT be bringing it back into the country.

It's a 5 figure watch but hypothetically lets pretend it's a 100k watch. Is there an upper limit or would I Just get $10,000 (I think it's 9.19% or something? So not exactly 10k) back in my bank account? I would also assume they'll probably search my bags on my way back in.

No limits.

But they've been pretty strict in the last 2 years or so

3 months ago went overseas. We claimed 2 expensive watches (about 300k each, Pateks).
At trs claim, took ages. 2 seniors called around. Serial numbers verified. Called Sydney store to verify.
Told at trs counter do not bring back or must declare which they always say anyway but this time told to expect a bag check on return.

We gave the watches to family as we had intended them as wedding presents anyway and met them in Singapore.

Back 3 weeks later. Once we got off plane got met by ABF agent. Passports taken, escorted straight through customs to luggage pickup and then to secondary screening.
Everything opened and pat down.
30min interrogation about "where are those watches" etc. Told them we haven't brought them back.
Then an even longer questioning time about our personal history. Who paid for the watches, show us your bank statement, what do you do for work.
Pretty much what you see on the border control TV show. Presumably thinking we were mules claiming trs for others?

Eventually just showed our previous few years tax returns, a business card, bank balances and showed our 4 suites tickets explaining it cost more than the tax refund anyway.
Let go after about 2 hours.
Still worth the 50k we got back

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Presumably thinking we were mules claiming trs for others?

That, or money laundering. Although if you were money laundering, not sure you’d be claiming under TRS